Why is my cat struggling to breathe with a lump and red eye after injury?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kitty. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He needs to be examined and the extent of his injuries determined. His eye will need to evaluated. It appears as though his third eyelid may be elevated and possibly damaged. The veterinarian will determine if medication such as antibiotics are warranted. If there is eye disease, such as a corneal ulcer or scratch across the eye, this will require specific treatment. Surgery is possible if there is an infection under the skin such as an abscess. If he is not as active, this is likely because he does not feel well. In the meantime, encourage him to eat and drink. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

Your cat needs to be seen by a veterinarian today. Please take him to a vet or petER now. The growth may be a large abscess or a serious hernia incarcerating abdominal content. Please take him to the vet now.

Oh dear! Poor Tigger. It does sound like he may have hit his head hard, or perhaps fallen off of something. I would recommend taking him to an emergency vet right away to be checked, as it sounds like he may have suffered some serious head trauma - this can be a life-threatening problem that needs immediate care.

Oh my. This appears to possibly be an injury to the eye and subsequent infection. It is hard to tell the degree of injury based on the photos, a vet exam is definitely needed her. I would highly recommend taking Mow to your local vet right away to get this eye tested, fully examined and treated. Best case scenario is that there isn't permanent damage done to this eye and antibiotics/pain medication /- drainage of a potential abscess are needed to get Mow better. Best wishes at the vet and take care.

If you are concerned that Jet's breathing is at all labored, or that he seems short of breath, he may need emergency care. I don't know what is wrong with him and unfortunately theres no way to tell that over the internet. If he seems to be breathing ok, and he's lethargic but responds to your voice and is able to rise on his own and support himself (pick him up then set him down--does he just flop where you put him or does he try to right himself and get his feet under him) its reasonable to wait until morning. However, if Jet is having trouble breathing, if he is open mouth breathing, if he's not responding when you talk to him or gently nudge him, then you need to try to get in to a vet tonight as it may be life threatening. Again, unfortunately I can't have a good idea of what is causing the problem without seeing Jet in person. Keep a close eye on him, I hope he is seeming to be a bit better now.

Poor Jaffacake! I am very concerned she may have mammary tumors which are often cancer, and potentially an infectious cat disease causing her breathing issues. If at all possible she really needs a full examination by a vet, blood work to evaluate her internal organ status, and testing for infectious diseases. I strongly encourage you to have her spayed as well. Hope that helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear about Lerdi! I too am somewhat concerned but have a few ideas. Least scary is just that he is painful or developing a fever. A fractured rib that is difficult to see on X-ray is also possible- this makes deep breathing quite painful so animals tend to take shallow, frequent breaths. A more scary idea is that he could have a slow leak of air or buildup of fluid into the chest cavity which is compressing the lungs. Keep a close eye on the color of his gums (pale pink in most cats) and that respiration rate. If those guns become white, grey, blue-tinged or that respiration rate keeps climbing, you head to the emergency vet immediately. Otherwise, Call the first vet back and see what they recommend- a repeat X-ray or chest ultrasound might be indicated. Best of luck to you and Lerdi!